Bneato Barhttp://bneatobar.com
Bringing the Decluttered Life to the PeopleFri, 31 Jul 2015 15:20:00 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.2.3organizing digital pics; part Ihttp://bneatobar.com/organizing-digital-pics-part-i/
http://bneatobar.com/organizing-digital-pics-part-i/#commentsFri, 31 Jul 2015 14:00:49 +0000http://bneatobar.com/?p=1503Organizing your digital photos is having a moment. I have gotten numerous inquiries over the past six months to help clients tame the photo beast (and have had to turn them away). I, myself, am a candidate for a good old fashioned photo organizing session as I have yet to figure out how to get photos off my phone and onto my Dropbox account. And yes, there are organizers that just help clients with their photos. Yep. There is an association called APPO (Association of Personal Photo Organizers).

My current sitch is this: I have pics on my iPhone 6, my Dropbox, the Photos app on my laptop, Google Photos, Shutterfly and Flickr (not to mention the hard copies of photos that I’m now classifying as vintage). The physical photos seem a little easier to deal with since I can easily scan them into my computer and drag them to Dropbox but the organization of the digital ones still eludes me.

So what’s a gal to do? (I kinda feel like Starlee Kine from ‘The Mystery Show‘ podcast; I’m on a mission to solve the unsolvable). The first stop is Apple’s Genius Bar. I have an appointment this Saturday which will hopefully shed some much needed light on my situation. And if you have an iPhone and a Mac computer, you are probably in the same situation as me; lots of photos and no structure or know-how on how to deal with them. So please, follow along as I attempt to uncover the digital photo organizing matrix…

]]>http://bneatobar.com/organizing-digital-pics-part-i/feed/0are you an opener or a finisher?http://bneatobar.com/are-you-an-opener-or-a-finisher/
http://bneatobar.com/are-you-an-opener-or-a-finisher/#commentsWed, 29 Jul 2015 14:00:08 +0000http://bneatobar.com/?p=1485Confession: I never finish a bottle of shampoo. I also never finish a bottle of conditioner…or lotion…or night cream…or, let’s just say, most beauty products. One of my worst nightmares is running out of something I use in my daily beauty routine and I’m also a commitment-phobe when it comes to cosmetics: I don’t pick favorites, and I always think there’s something better out there.

Recently, I read an article by Gretchen Rubin in which she talks about finishers and openers. In short, finishers love completing things and using things to the last drop; while openers enjoy the pleasure of starting something new. Clearly, I’m an opener.

Reading Rubin’s article was the first time I really thought about my “opener” habit. My immediate reaction was: openers = bad, finishers = good, because I grew up with the mantra “finish what you start.” But upon further thought, I decided to embrace the happiness that my “opener” habit brings me: Yes, I probably spend more money than finishers on average by not finishing the bottle, but as long as my old, partially-filled bottles don’t pile up under the bathroom sink, never to be used again, I’m okay with it. Hey, it’s the little things in life, right?

How about you? Are you an opener or a finisher when it comes to beauty products?

How do you avoid letting the bottles pile up? Check back next week when I’ll post about strategies that have worked for me.

]]>http://bneatobar.com/are-you-an-opener-or-a-finisher/feed/0introducing the ziploc battery baggy methodhttp://bneatobar.com/introducing-the-ziploc-battery-baggy-method/
http://bneatobar.com/introducing-the-ziploc-battery-baggy-method/#commentsMon, 27 Jul 2015 14:00:09 +0000http://bneatobar.com/?p=1481I think we can all agree that once a battery has no more juice in it, we’re done with it. No love lost; now it’s just a matter of what to do with your dead ones: do you let them pile up, or toss them immediately? FYI: It’s actually illegal in California to put batteries in the trash.

For years I’ve taken the Ziploc Battery Baggy approach handed down to me from my mother (because it’s important to keep tradition, right?).

The Traditional Ziploc Battery Baggy Approach:

I keep a gallon-sized Ziploc labeled “used” in my miscellaneous stuff drawer in the kitchen. Theoretically, at some point, I do the environmentally responsible thing and hand them off to an e-waste center. In actuality, when the bag is full, I start another one. Confession: so does my mom.

Stumbling upon my bag-and-a-half of used batteries the other day, I decided it was finally time to complete the circle and recycle those bad boys. I welcome you to let this post be your motivation to get rid of your used batteries #YouCanThankMeLater.

Unfortunately, finding a place in your area that takes used batteries requires a little brain power & Googling.

Here are some things to know:

Rechargeable Batteries: (like those found in power tools. These actually do go bad at a certain point–think of your laptop battery) can be recycled at Home Depot & Staples nationally. Yay! Easy.

Single-Use Batteries: (AAA, AA, C, D, yadda yadda) must be taken to your local e-waste center.

Given I have to physically get in my car and drive to the E-Waste Center in order to get rid of my used batteries, I’m going to stick with the Ziploc Battery Baggy, but make it a habit to recycle once the FIRST bag is full.

]]>http://bneatobar.com/introducing-the-ziploc-battery-baggy-method/feed/0pillow talk: are you with the right one?http://bneatobar.com/pillow-talk-are-you-with-the-right-one/
http://bneatobar.com/pillow-talk-are-you-with-the-right-one/#commentsFri, 24 Jul 2015 14:00:30 +0000http://bneatobar.com/?p=1467Are you sleeping with “the one”? No, I’m not talking about a human, I’m talking about a pillow! A recent experience led me to consider who, I mean, what, I am sleeping with, and if it’s really treating me the way I deserve to be treated. #ITakeNappingSeriously

A few months ago I stayed overnight at a friend’s house. I stripped the bed in the AM to make it easier for washing the dirtied sheets and found this old, yellowed pillow under the pristine white pillowcase I slept on the night before. You can imagine my reaction as a clean freak; but let’s be honest, you’d probably have the same one.

The experience got me thinking about the state of my pillows: their color, fluffiness and age. Then I thought about just how many pillows, specifically for sleeping, I have. The final count: twelve between my boyfriend and I. And the reason? No one pillow does the trick; we both have to stack multiple pillows under our heads to get the support we need. This was clearly a problem to be solved with some awesome outcomes: 1. get rid of the twelve pillows cluttering our home, 2. get one, maybe two, amazing pillows, 3. take a nap mid-week during work for “research.”

So how do you find the perfect pillow to replace your multi-pillow-sleeping-structure-of-greatness? Here are some things to know when choosing a new pillow:

PILLOW DENSITY – depends on your sleep style.

Sleep on your back? Thin pillows are your best shot as they support your head gently while not tilting your head too far forward making it difficult to breath.

Sleep on your side? (me too!) You’ll want a denser pillow to support you head and avoid your shoulder cramping up towards your ear.

Sleep on your stomach? You may not need a pillow, or if so, a very very thin one. Experts say this sleeping position is best avoided as it puts strain on your lower back.

FILLING – a personal preference.

Down & Feather: fluffing these pillows allows air to move between the feather particles, making these pillows incredibly malleable. They’re light, yet supportive and feel so darn luxurious. But be warned: they can cost a pretty penny, so be prepared.

Foam: these pillows can be dense, and may be a good option for side sleepers who want a lot of support. Consider that foam tends to have odd smells when first opened, so if you have a sensitive nose, be warned.

Memory Foam: like memory foam mattresses, these pillows are praised for adjusting to the form of your body as you sleep. You’ll find many come in an S-shape which helps support your neck. Memory foam can also have a chemical odor when opened, and retain heat, so if you’re prone to sweat the bed, this pillow might leave you uncomfortable.

Polyester Fillings: pillows filled with polyester (like the filling in most stuffed animals) tend to be the most affordable, but they are the least durable. These pillows hold their shape, but over multiple uses lose their form, and therefore function, swifter than other options.

PILLOW SIZE – corresponds to mattress size, and your pillow case.

Standard Pillow = 20” x 26”. 1 fits a twin, 2 fit across a full/queen, and 3 across a king.

Queen Pillow = 20” x 30”.

King Pillow = 20” x 36”

Where to Get Rid of Your Old Pillows:

Many animal shelters are happy to take old pillows. You can also post them on Freecycle. Old pillows are not recyclable, but you can reuse the stuffing to refill old stuffed animals or cushions needing some extra oomph.

So what pillow did I go with? As a side sleeper, tired of continually stacking polyester-filled pillow atop pillow, I decided to invest in a standard-size firm 100% goose down, and I have to say, I think I’ve found the one:)

]]>http://bneatobar.com/pillow-talk-are-you-with-the-right-one/feed/2mo’ pens mo’ problemshttp://bneatobar.com/mo-pens-mo-problems/
http://bneatobar.com/mo-pens-mo-problems/#commentsWed, 22 Jul 2015 07:00:30 +0000http://bneatobar.com/?p=1457You guys, I literally gathered up every pen, pencil, marker, magic marker (there is a difference), highlighter and colored pencil in my home. I looked in the car, the garage (I know) the desk drawer, the office closet, the purse and the kitchen. Whew, that was a mouthful. If you’re over the age of 35, that was my best impersonation of Tommy Lee Jones in ‘The Fugitive.’ I need to DVR that stat. Okay, let’s get back to the topic at hand; pens.

Once I was done corralling and counting, I had more than a minimalist would own #for sure. Here’s the breakdown by type;

I didn’t get rid of a ton–mostly because I only own 14 pens (and that was before I got rid of the two red pens). The rest are;

Job-related (Sharpies)

Craft-related (colored pencils and markers) which are also work-related since I use them in Instagram pics for @BneatoBar

Good to have a few around (pencils) #amiright

So in total, I now own 12 pens (and it’s a 2-person household). Which has me thinking; what is your number?? Like, did you know that a pen takes 5-8 hours of use to run out of ink. I feel like I’ll have my pens forever at that rate (since I just don’t write a ton). I would like to write less checks but that doesn’t seem like it’s happening anytime soon. And for stationary, I usually use the metallic gel pens– so I really could stand to part with a couple more pens, no?

On our Instagram, we posted a fun pic with a witty caption that says, “Between pens and lighters, Bic is making a fortune off of people losing their products.” I posted this for a couple of reasons; The first is that it’s funny and possibly true. We buy more than we need because we can’t find what we already own. If we had proper homes for our belongings, we might not lose stuff. And finally, if we had less stuff, it would be easier to keep track of the stuff we own.

I’m bringing up pens because I think it might be an easy category for most folks to start with. You see, we’re starting a new series in which we count stuff we own and compare our quantities to others. There’s no right or wrong answer, it’s more of a study on what we collect, why we collect and how much we collect (or just plain end up with). And if all of this talk about stuff motivates you to go through your stuff (and eventually part with some of it) well then we would be more than stoked.

]]>http://bneatobar.com/mo-pens-mo-problems/feed/0email and paperless workshops for salehttp://bneatobar.com/email-and-paperless-workshop-for-sale/
http://bneatobar.com/email-and-paperless-workshop-for-sale/#commentsMon, 13 Jul 2015 01:43:11 +0000http://bneatobar.com/?p=1441You guys. You guys. Tomorrow I will have done seven workshops in the last few months. That might be a record for this gal right here. I was lucky enough to get called upon by the Creative Live folks up in San Francisco and taped two workshops (email decluttering and going kinda paperless). The cool thing about these two classes is they are super easy to follow and not your typical all-day snooze fest. We get in and out so you can start learning what you need to know to tackle your email inbox and your paper piles. The best part; the classes are affordable. Like you can’t afford not to buy them because the knowledge I drop is worth it (not tooting any horns here, just relaying some cold hard facts). You also get a resource page with my all-time favorite apps and productivity tools to make you, well, that much more productive. I’m so excited to be able to have a video that you can actually use at home to get yourself all kinds of organized. Here are the links to purchase Organize Your Email Inbox and Organize Your Paperwork.
]]>http://bneatobar.com/email-and-paperless-workshop-for-sale/feed/0tick, tick, tickhttp://bneatobar.com/tick-tick-tick/
http://bneatobar.com/tick-tick-tick/#commentsThu, 04 Jun 2015 04:45:18 +0000http://bneatobar.com/?p=1438Time Batching (AKA: putting all your minutes in a box and pretending it’s a present to yourself. Mainly because it feels like one.)

Howdy folks. This blog post might have a sprinkling of southern flair as I’ve been visiting the south for most of May. Around these parts, time moves slowly (or at least it seems to), but I do love visiting the Lowcountry (a coastal region of South Carolina). It’s one of those vacations where you don’t need another vacation when you get home to recoup. Folks down here move at a slower pace and to be perfectly honest, it’s refreshing. Being surrounded by family that isn’t addicted to social media and only check Facebook on their computer is also some kind of wonderful.

Slowing down and just saying no to multi-tasking takes us right into the meat of this newsletter: getting stuff done and staying focused.

In previous blog posts, I have hopefully brought you up to speed on tracking your time and how to create a to-do list. And apologies for leaving you out in the cold on how to work that new to-do list of yours. Wait no longer; here’s how. The Pomodoro technique might–no, scratch that–IS my favorite way to be productive. Productivity folks call this technique time batching. I call it getting S#!& done. Feel free to call it whatever you like as long as you work it.

How many times have you done (or not done something) because someone is paying attention to you? That’s what the Pomodoro method is for tasks. It keeps you honest. I’m not going into the history of this technique, although you can read all about it here. I would rather tell you how to use it so you can get your important stuff done, leaving you time to do whatever your heart desires.

How it works:

Pick a task / to-do / project

Use a timer – one that makes a ticking sound. It’s important that the timer makes a repetitive sound so that you are reminded that you are supposed to be getting work done.

Set the timer to 25 minutes. If it’s hard for you to complete a full 25 minutes at first, build up to it.

Once the 25 minutes is up, take a 5-minute break.

Repeat steps 1-4 three more times.

At the end of the fourth Pomodoro, take a 25 minute break.

Congrats! You just did a full Pomodoro.

Setting a timer and an intention will quickly make you notice when you attempt to check email, FB, etc. You will realize that you get distracted by a whole host of things (turn off those notifications already). It will take a lot of patience and practice but pretty soon, you will be well on your way to time batching using the Pomodoro Technique.

]]>http://bneatobar.com/tick-tick-tick/feed/0A new life away from the TVhttp://bneatobar.com/a-new-life-away-from-the-tv/
http://bneatobar.com/a-new-life-away-from-the-tv/#commentsFri, 17 Apr 2015 16:11:59 +0000http://bneatobar.com/?p=1433I’m embarrassed. My name is Beth Penn and I watch way too much TV.

I also check my Instagram feed way too much. Duuuuuuuuuuuude. I’m done. No more Real Housewives (apologies, Andy Cohen, but it has to be this way). I wonder how I’m going to break the news to my hubster about the upcoming season of Big Brother as the show is on like three times a week. (And then there’s our fantasy league to consider…) If you’re wondering, I do watch other things that are ‘good for you,’ as they say, but then I think: are they really? Once the season is over, I have a hard time remembering what even happened and have to scour recaps of the previous season of House of Cards before the new season drops.

It makes me curious. Why the heck do we want to distract ourselves so darn much? On my time tracker log (the exercise I had you do in last month’s newsletter), I marked an ‘X’ for each time I distracted myself with surfing the web, Instagram, or checking email when I didn’t need to. IT WAS RELENTLESS. Sometimes I feel like the world is on one crazy amusement park ride and instead of it coming to a child-friendly stop, we’re all gonna get thrown off. Watch this clip from Broad City and I think you’ll be able to see what I’m talking about. Why do we need distraction? In my case, my social media intake goes up when I’m bored or anxious about something, or after a long day I find myself plopping in front of the TV because I’m unable to move.

We do all of these things because we’re used to doing them. And doing something different often means creating anxiety and being uncomfortable. But what’s the tradeoff for all this distraction? Ten years from now, I won’t be enriched from watching RHOBH. Calculating the hours spent made me realize how much time I waste and how much I don’t want to be wasting it anymore. I’d like to see what life is like on the other side of all the distractions. For those of you who did the time tracking exercise with me— I’m curious if it helped you discover new ways to save time. Drop me a line or share your findings over on the Bneato Bar FB page. I’d love to have some partners in crime to commiserate with.

Which brings us to this: how to plan your day using Google Keep(jeez guys, why did you let me ramble for so long)? Because more reading might hurt your brain,here’s a screencast I made just for you on how it works. Google Keep, meet some rad folks that are about to use you to plan the heck out of their days.

Love,
Beth and the Bneato Bar Team

P.S. No one has come up with another word for time management… Tess (one of the Bneato Bar Pros) did point me to this article where they use the phrase “Attention Management” but I’m still searching for something with a little more zing!

]]>http://bneatobar.com/a-new-life-away-from-the-tv/feed/0how to: make a rule, um, i mean filter in gmailhttp://bneatobar.com/how-to-make-a-rule-um-i-mean-filter-in-gmail/
http://bneatobar.com/how-to-make-a-rule-um-i-mean-filter-in-gmail/#commentsFri, 03 Apr 2015 18:55:08 +0000http://bneatobar.com/?p=1427I love mail. This is no secret. BUT junk mail can seriously su#$ it. I’m serious. It clogs my inbox to the point of overwhelm and frustration. Most of it from someone in Zimbabwe or Russia selling me anything related to that three letter word… (sex). Yes, I said it. This blog is no longer PG-13. In the publishing of this post, it will have graduated to rated R. #justkidding. You guys can handle it (In reality, I can’t… I’m the one with the conservative mouth). But I digress. Let’s get back to how to create a filter in Gmail. In Apple Mail, they’re called ‘Rules’ and in Gmail, they’re called ‘Filters.’ They do the same darn thing but there’s just a different way to set it up because Gmail is different #obvi. So sit back, tune in for about a minute (your brain can handle it) and learn something new.
]]>http://bneatobar.com/how-to-make-a-rule-um-i-mean-filter-in-gmail/feed/0vintage pinterest: get this look!http://bneatobar.com/vintage-pinterest-get-this-look/
http://bneatobar.com/vintage-pinterest-get-this-look/#commentsFri, 13 Mar 2015 14:00:31 +0000http://bneatobar.com/?p=1399We’re all about transformations and this before & after featured in Getting Organized Magazine (winter 2012) is great example. In this case, it was a blank, blue slate with some semblance of an office and other miscellaneous furniture. Fast forward to a highly functional and stylish home office with red accents and a minimalist, but cozy vibe. It was pretty obvious that the original space lacked cohesion of any kind, or even an obvious function, but more often than not, we end up with spaces whether we like to admit it or not. Want to take your catch-all room to something more wow and functional? Basically, it goes like this:

STEP 1: Define the space. What functions does it need to serve? Multiple people?

STEP 2: Declutter. Donate that rogue microwave or your extra sofa and you’ll thank yourself later! Paring down the items in a room helps to solidify a room’s purpose.

STEP 3: Decide what furniture you need for the space and where existing furniture will live.

STEP 4: Create a plan for shelving/storage/function. This is sometimes easier said than done, and stores like The Container Store will gladly assist in the planning and decision-making as it pertains to storage and shelves.

STEP 5: Execute that awesome plan you have in place!

What’s so important to remember is that creating a cohesive look can be as simple as using your favorite bold color as an accent to a neutral palate to tie it all together. So, pick your favorite color and get going!

STEP 6: Paint! By painting everything in white or a light neutral (hello, blank canvas!) this allows you to play around with less permanent elements and have a bit of fun mixing and matching. It also creates a serene environment, which is oh so important in an office space, and frankly, every space.

STEP 7: Go shopping! Below are specific suggestions for how you can get this look for your own space.

START WITH SHELVING: The shelving system seen here is the ELFA system from The Container Store and is a modular, flexible system of rails, shelves, and add-ons to give you all of the best storage options. The ELFA system tends to be industry standard. While it can be pricey, the options available make it more than worth it, and they have semi-annual sales if you time it right. Also important to note that home improvement stores like Lowe’s have competitive systems you can buy, just be sure they have the configurations and accessories you’ll need to be most effective.

STORAGE BINS: You can get these exact bins from IKEA for a very reasonable price. They’re great because the label very clearly tells you what is in each container without showing you the complete contents. These are also quite nice because they come in a variety of shapes and sizes, while still keeping the overall look of the room cohesive and put together. Anything that can be labeled from the outside is a good idea.

GENERAL DESK STORAGE: Aside from paperwork, you will likely find that you have a lot of office supplies, including stamps, staplers, scissors, writing utensils, and just generally anything related to clips or paper supplies. For items like this, it’s often best to keep it minimal and using trays like these from Poppin help give everything a home with not too much extra space to fill up. The great thing about these stylish bins are that they look great on their own and you’ll want to keep them out to admire them; in turn you’ll keep yourself tidy because the open tops don’t allow for excess clutter to build up. Win win.

DESK CHAIR Chairs are the perfect place to add a kick, because while they can pack a visual punch, you spend most of your time in it aka you don’t lose any tranquility with a bold, bright pattern. For instance, this one from IKEA.

STEP 8: Put it all together and enjoy! Now you have all of the pieces you need and plan for your newly decluttered things, you’re at the fun part: putting all of those things in their new homes! Remember like with like and labels are your friend; before you know it, you’ll have everything in its right place.